The ruins of the broken building lay silent except for the sound of Raiden and the ninja's breathing. Raiden glanced over at the masked figure beside him.
"So… what's your name, anyway?" Raiden asked, curiosity in his voice.
The ninja hesitated for a moment before replying, "Ash."
Raiden grinned. "Ash, huh? That's a solid name. I'm Raiden."
Ash gave a slight nod. "Raiden. Fitting for someone who can use lightning."
"Yeah, I guess," Raiden said with a shrug. "So, what's next? Are you ready to sail out with us and make this crew unstoppable?"
Ash didn't respond immediately. Instead, he shifted his stance and crossed his arms. "Before I can join your crew, there's something I need to do. "
Raiden raised a brow. "What's that?"
Ash's tone grew more serious. "If I'm going to leave the ninja society, there's a price. I'll have to fight the master—Katsuo."
Raiden frowned slightly. "Fight him? Like, a duel or something?"
Ash nodded. "A one-on-one death match. No one has ever survived going against him. His aura alone is enough to make men faint. He doesn't just rule the ninja society—he owns it. To him, I'm a weapon, not a person. Tools aren't allowed to walk away."
Raiden scratched the back of his head. "Okay… so, let's say you win. Then what? You're free, and you join my crew, right?"
Ash shook his head. "It's not that simple. Even if I win, the rest of the ninja society will see it as an act of rebellion. They'll hunt me down for defying him. Leaving isn't just risking my life—it's declaring war."
Raiden let out a low whistle. "So, if you lose, you're dead. And if you win, you're still in deep trouble. Sounds like you're stuck either way."
Ash nodded, his voice tinged with bitterness. "That's the life I've been trapped in. Ever since my parents were killed, Katsuo took me in and raised me… not as a son, but as a weapon. I've been forced to kill, to follow orders I never agreed to. I've never had a choice."
Raiden's expression softened for a moment. "Your parents died, huh? Mine did too. I was just a kid when it happened. I don't even remember how old I was… seven, maybe eight. It's all a blur memory now."
Ash looked at Raiden quietly, sensing a shared pain in his words.
Raiden's voice grew firmer as he continued. "But you know what? I made a choice. I decided I wouldn't let my past define me. And you don't have to either. If fighting this Katsuo guy is what it takes to set you free, then we'll do it. And if his entire ninja army comes after you… well, they'll just have to deal with me."
Ash stared at Raiden, his mask hiding any hint of emotion. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "You're serious about this?"
Raiden grinned, his confidence unshaken. "Dead serious. You're part of my crew now, Ash. And I don't leave my crew behind."
Ash let out a small chuckle. "You're either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid."
Raiden smirked. "Why not both?"
For the first time in years, Ash felt a flicker of hope. He didn't know what the future held, but for now, he had someone willing to stand by him.